Composite ornamental panelwork for various articles



Sept. 21, 1937. J. FLETCHER 2,093,831

COMPOSITE ORNAMENTAL PANELWORK FOR VARIOUS ARTICLES Filed July 21, 1936 Patented Sept. 21, 1937 ATENT GFECE COMPOSITE ORNAMENTAL PANELWORK FOR VARIOUS ARTICLES Junius Fletcher, Portsmouth, Va. Application July 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,784

9 Claims.

This invention is directed to ornamentation suitable for the surfaces of chests, cigarette boxes, tables, and numerous other containers and furniture.

The essential object of the invention is to provide an ornamental surface from a multiplicity of elements of similar form which may be arranged in innumerable designs, which pieces because of their form and other characteristics produce certain novel and pleasing effects (independent of the general design in which they are arranged).

For the purposes of the invention I employ small oblong pieces of materially greater length than cross-section. Matchsticks are admirably suited to my purpose because of their size and shape, but of course other pieces of generally similar shape to matchsticks, whether of wood or other material may be equally well employed. For purposes hereinafter to be explained the pieces may be provided with ends of contrasting color to their main body portion. This is an important feature of the invention although certain pleasing efiects utilizing the basic principles of the invention may be obtained in its absence.

I make no broad claim to the idea of employing a multiplicity of pieces to form a composite surface since mosaic work, inlay work and marquetry are well known in many variations. However, by reason of the character of the elements above described I am able to obtain certain novel and pleasing surface effects which are readily distinguishable from prior forms of surface ornamentation.

Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawing are fragmentary representations illustrating the practice of my invention, the same general principles of construction being employed in each, but a difierent design being illustrated in the separate figures. Fig. 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of a box with several of its surfaces ornamented according to the present invention. Fig. 7 illustrates the type of piece employed for the purposes of the invention. I

As indicated in Fig. '7 the pieces used are of relatively small cross-section, preferably square, and having a materially greater lengthwise dimension. The end portion a will preferably be of contrasting appearance to that of the main body portion b. Such contrast may be produced by charring the ends, leaving the body portions in their natural state. The ends, however, may be treated in some other way to produce the contrast. A series of the elements when arranged end to end will produce narrow stripes which are transversely interrupted at recurrent intervals at the joints between the difierent pieces. The elements may be also arranged in side by side relation, either parallel to or diagonal to the edge of the surface which they are to ornament,

and in any such case the lines between the adjacent pieces will give the composite surface a striated effect in a direction lengthwise of the pieces. It is contemplated that the pieces in any event be of relatively small proportions so that a multiplicity will be employed in surfacing even a relatively small area.

In Fig. 1 a multiplicity of the pieces are arranged between two border strips HI and II. All of the pieces extend in the same direction and form a continuous series of parallel rows. The striated effect is interrupted at recurrent intervals by the joints between the abutting ends of the matches in each row. By staggering the joints between the ends of the pieces in adjacent rows the composite surface formed is given the appearance of coarsely grained wood. Such effect is quite pronounced where, as shown, the pieces at at least one end are charred or otherwise made to contrast with their main body portions. I

In Fig. 2 the pieces are arranged in side by side relation, and extending diagonally to the edge of the surface which here is constituted by the border piece I2. The pleasing appearance is further enhanced by using pieces with darkened ends. The contrasting end of one piece may be oppositely disposed to the darkened end of the next'piece. By reason of the angular relation of the assembled pieces it may be desirable to bevel the endsat the extremity of the surface where they meet the border strip l2. This is not entirely necessary, but can easily be done because of the small dimensions of the pieces.

In Fig. 3 a design is formed by arranging the pieces in difierent areas to extend at an angle to each other. In the area generally indicated by the numeral IS the pieces are arranged in continuous rows with the joints between the ends of the pieces in each row staggered. The arrangement in such area is much the same. as in Fig. 1 except that pieces of somewhat shorter length are employed. Inset in the area I3 is a geometrical design formed by two series of pieces I l and IS in which the respective rows of pieces are oppositely inclined to the direction of the rows in area IS. A pleasing effect can be obtained along the meeting line of the pieces in areas l4 and 55 through the contrast between the ends and the body portions.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated the effect produced by 1 inlaying an ornament l6 of different character in a surface composed of pieces generally designated by the numeral l7, and bordered by a strip I 8. The arrangement of the pieces appear somewhat difierent from that shown in Fig. 1, although the arrangement is essentially the same. The diiference in effect is due to the fact that in Fig. 4 a closer stagger is employed between the end joints of the pieces in adjacent rows.

In Fig. 5 are illustrated two adjoining panels of different design set off by a frame I9. In the left hand panel generally designated by the numeral 20 the pieces employed are only half the length of that illustrated in Fig. '7, and employed in certain of the previous figures. Such pieces are arranged in adjacent vertical rows with merely a slight stagger between the joints at the ends of the pieces in adjacent rows. This results in a series of diagonally extending lines or are enhanced by the contrasting appearance of the ends of the pieces to their body portions. In the right hand panel 2| a border 22 is formed immediately adjacent the frame I!) by several rows of pieces, and within the border is a series of diagonally extending pieces, the end of the pieces in each row meeting along the common line 23. The right hand panel 2| illustrates the effect obtained by employing pieces having plain ends, and additionally illustrates plain pieces in combination with pieces having contrasting ends.

It will be evident that a great variety of de signs may be produced within the scope of the invention, and those here illustrated and described are merely illustrative.

To further illustrate the invention I have shown in Fig. 6 the same applied to a box, several different forms of design being employed. The box is indicated as having a main body portion 24, and provided with a removable top 25. The side of the box proper and the side of the top are similarly decorated by having secured thereto a composite surface of pieces extending in a vertical direction. No surrounding frame is employed and pieces extend to the very edge of the box portions. With such an arrangement the pleasing appearance may be enhanced by rounding off the edges of the pieces as indicated at 26 and H.

The upper surface of the box top has a border strip 28-providing a depression in which according to the invention pieces are assembled as an inlay, The arrangement of pieces is substantially that shown in Fig. 1. The striated and grain effects are apparent at both the top and the side of of the box.

In practicing the invention the general design to be employed will first be decided upon, and this will in part be determined by the size and character of the article to be decorated. It may bedesired to cover the entire surface of an article, or again it may be desirable to recess the surface, or provide a grill or frame of strips forming recesses in which the pieces can be inlayed. An ad-.

hesive will .be applied to the surface and the pieces then assembled in the desired design. Where, as preferably, the pieces are to include contrasting ends such treatment will ordinarily be carried out preliminarily. After the adhesive has dried so that the pieces are firmly bonded to the surface, a coating of varnish or lacquer can be applied. The striated and grain effects will appear tobest advantage where a clear or relatively light colored coating material is used.

-What I claim is:

1. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of small wooden pieces of greater length than cross-section secured in assembled relation to a base, said pieces having charredends which give a grain effect to the exposed surface presented by the composite of the pieces.

2. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of small oblong pieces of materially greater length than cross-section secured in assembled relation to a base, said pieces having an integral end portion of contrasting color to the main body portion arranged to give a grain effect to the exposed surface presented by the composite of the pieces.

3. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of small oblong pieces of substantially greater length than cross-section secured to a base, said pieces having charred ends and being arranged side by side and end to end to present a composite surface which is given a grain effect by the charred ends of the pieces.

4. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of small thin oblong pieces of greater length than cross-section secured to a base, said pieces having an end portion integral with the main body portion and of contrasting color to the main body of the pieces, and being arranged in side by side relation to form parallel rows having a plurality of pieces aranged end to end in each row and providing a striated grain effect lengthwise of the rows.

5. Ornamental panelwork comprising a base member having a composite surface section secured thereto, said surface section being composed of a mass of matchsticks having charred ends arranged in side by side and end to end relation, said matchsticks so positioned in relation to each other that the charred ends of the sticks appear at scattered intervals throughout the surface as a grain effect.

6. Ornamental panelwork comprising a base member having a composite surface section secured thereto, said surface section being composed of a mass of matchsticks having ends of contrasting color to the main body portion and arranged in side by side and end to end relation, said matchsticks being so positioned in relation to each other that the contrasting ends of different sticks are spaced one from another and appear at scattered intervals throughout the surface as a grain effect.

'7. Ornamental panelwork comprising a base, a plurality of matchsticks arranged side by side in parallel rows and with a plurality of matchsticks arranged end to end in the rows mounted on the base, the composite surface formed by the matchsticks through the arrangement of the matchsticks being. given a wood grained effect running in a direction lengthwise of the rows.

8. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of miniature thin oblong pieces only a fraction of an inch in cross-section and of the propor tions of a matchstick secured to a base and forming a composite surface, said pieces being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows with .the pieces in each row disposed end to end, and with the pieces in one row in side by side relation with the pieces of the next row, the composite surface byreason of the size and arrangement of the pieces having the appearance of coarse-grained wood.

9. Ornamental panelwork formed of a plurality of miniature thin oblongpieces only a fraction of an inch in width and of the proportion of a matchstick secured to a base and presenting a composite surface, said pieces being arranged in side by side relation to form parallel rows with a plurality of pieces arranged end to end in .each' row, the pieces in different rows being partially offset lengthwise fromeach other so that the break line in one row formed by the meeting of the ends of the pieces are staggered to the break line of an adjacent row. the composite surface by reason of the proportion and arrangement of the pieces simulating the appearance of coarsegrained wood.

- JUNIUS FLETCHER. 

